Saturday, April 26, 2008

It was Amy's first swap so I tried to make it special for her! I sent her two necklaces I made using vintage chandelier crystals, and other vintage goodies! One is a very bold piece that hung from gorgeous, double sided satin ribbon in black and white. The Theme for the swap was french and blue, white and black, in case you couldn't tell!

I painted the vintage chandelier crystal with glass paint, and put a little gold foil around the edges.

This is the ribbon that secures the necklace.

I also made this journal for Amy. It was my first time making something like this with paper, and while I had fun doing it I think I'll leave this craft for people who are really amazing at it like Alisa, at Life is a Beautiful Place to Be.

Here is the other necklace I made Amy. This one is more "everyday". A thick antiqued brass chain, and a vintage chandelier crystal that was collaged with some vintage french text, and a little more gold leaf!

I didn't take pics of all the other little goodies I sent so I swiped some from Amy! She took some great pics of everything, even the little not I wrote her in French!

I had so much fun putting this all together! Thanks Amy for being such a Fabulous Swap partner! I'll add pics of goodies when they arrive!

I also wanted to share what I made for the Enchanted Swap. I already shared what I received from my lovely Partner HeatherNow it's my turn!

I dubbed her the Cupcake princess since I knew how fond of the sweet treat she was! Her is the tiara I made her, as well as a royal cupcake scepter!

This a a cute necklace I also made for Heather.

Vintage beads in yummy candy shades, and of course a vintage collaged chandelier crystal. This was has a sweet little blue bird, some vintage text and some pretty flowers.

It makes me so happy to share what I make with people who really enjoy the items! Thank You Heather and Amy for making these swaps so much fun!

Friday, April 25, 2008

I have been extremely busy lately with orders to fulfill, and two Swaps that I have been participating in! I finally got all my swap goodies done, packaged and sent out! Ahhh, I feel a weight is lifted, and now I can share with you the goodies I have received!

Ok so the sweet Heather sent some fabulous goodies to me! An adorable notebook she embellished just for me, with my name in sparkly letters! A bracelet that spelled out my name and has a little crown and the word "wish". A princess wand, because what princess could be with out one? A lastly, the best of all, the most beautiful necklace made of multi-colored buttons, the tiniest stars, and a soldered bubble charm that says create! Seriously it is lovely!! Thanks Heather for all my goodies! I adore them all!

Here is what everything looked like when I opened the box!

All the goodies! The one that says Princess Kelly, is actually the box that the necklace came in!This is the from of the box that was inside the box that held the necklace! And here is the beautiful necklace!

Lastly here is the bracelet and a little bubble glass ring with a four leaf clover image!

Saturday, April 19, 2008

So I got the most fabulous surprise delivered yesterday! I don't know about you all, but I just love to get packages! The anticipation of opening the box, pulling out all the protective packaging, it's just so thrilling! Especially when it is a surprise package!

So back to yesterday...

I was cleaning up the bathroom when the doorbell rang. Low and behold it was the UPS man! What a lovely way to get out of cleaning the bathroom! So here was this big box from Rachel, my lovely Easter Swap partner! She found out it was my birthday and sent me a lovely box of goodies! Inside were some fabulous goodies! Here take a look:

This was the way the little dish came packaged with the chandelier charm inside this cute little box!

Close up of the vintage chandelier crystal charm.

Vintage toys!This is a a sea shell buckle! Isn't it beautiful!

The back of the buckle.This was the best surprise of all! The cutest little embellished jean vest for my Addie!The tiny ruffle details are amazing!So I have told Rachel she needs to open her own little shop on Etsy! Don't you agree? She makes all kinds of beautiful things but we can't see them on a regular basis! Please Rachel do us all a favor, and open an Etsy shop!!! Pretty Please? But really, Thank you so much for the very thoughtful, and sweet B-day surprise! You made my day!!

***This post was started several days ago!! My life has been so wild lately, it seems like it took forever to get this post done!!

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Today is my hubby's B-day! It's a biggie too! The big 3-0! We had a fabulous celebration with enormous cupcakes, Elmo party hats, and ice cream! let me tell ya, it was a celebration! The kids got a kick out of seeing daddy in his party hat (left over from the middle ones' birthday)!

I know this may seem like a sad way to leave your 20's behind, but don't worry! My Birthday is only six days away, also the big 3-0, so we are spending the weekend in San Francisco to celebrate both! The grandparents are babysitting which is heaven for both parties!

So happy Birthday, my friend, my soul mate, my partner in crime! I love you more than you'll ever know!

Sunday, April 6, 2008

So I have exciting news! Well it is for me anyway! I have been granted a table space in the coveted Poppy Talk Handmade Market! For those of you who don't know of Poppy Talk Handmadeyou really should check out their blog. It is a fabulous place full of handmade goodness! Fabulous artists/crafters and events are featured, and amazing Etsy artists are often given applause. Their Handmade market is like an online arts and crafts show, and space is limited, so it's totally awesome that I was chosen to be a part! The new show starts April 14th, which coincidentally is my birthday (the big 3-0! OMG!!), so it will be an all around fab day! I hope you'll all check it out!

The swap is called Enchanted, and was inspired by the new Disney Movie of the same name. I have some fun ideas up my sleeve for this one! Tiara just might be one of them! You'll have to check back to see!

I have some new items to add to my shop, but I'll post those later tonight!

Thursday, April 3, 2008

I am trying to put together a business card/promo Swap. My goal is to get 20-25 people involved who will send their business cards or other small promo items (such as coupons, buttons, magnenets,etc) to every other person on the list. Once all the cards are collected from each person on the list you will compile them all into a little "godie bag" that you will ship off with items you sell from your shop, or give away at shows you participate in. This is a fabulous way to promote, promote! Very little out of pocket expense, and hopefully you will receive lots of new traffic to your shop! Because this will be done within The CSST you are promoting to the perfect target audience that loves our shabby cottage style!

Don't worry if you don't have coupons, or other promo items, Business cards are just fine! Make sure your shop name is on your cards though, so people know where to find you. It is also helpful if there is a description, or phots of your work!

Your goodie bags don't have to be elaborate. Just put everything in a cellophane bag, or use your creativity to glam it up! The decision is yours!